Area impacts of redistricting decision

Something akin to the Abbott & Costello 'who's on first?' routine has happened over the course of the weekend. Late last week, three federal judges created new boundaries that change the lines dividing state House, state Senate and State Board of Education districts.

By Emily Shultz

Dodge City Daily Globe - Dodge City, KS

By Emily Shultz

Posted Jun. 12, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jun 12, 2012 at 11:11 AM

By Emily Shultz

Posted Jun. 12, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jun 12, 2012 at 11:11 AM

DODGE CITY

Something akin to the Abbott & Costello 'who's on first?' routine has happened over the course of the weekend. Late last week, three federal judges created new boundaries that change the lines dividing state House, state Senate and State Board of Education districts.

While some areas have seen districts altered to have two incumbents living in them, changes for southwest Kansas are less dramatic for most.

"A new chapter has been penned in the history book of Kansas redistricting, and most certainly there will be renewed calls for the redistricting process to be handled by a nonpartisan commission or board in the future, rather than the legislature," said 119th District Representative Brian Weber.

For those in parts of Dodge City, Weber will still be their representative, but the 119th district shrank and now only includes the portion of the city north of the Arkansas river.

Spearville and northeast Ford county, which had once been part of the 119th are now grouped into the new 117th district along with Kiowa, Edwards, Hodgeman, part of Finney, Ness, Rush and Pawnee counties. The deadline to file for all districts was noon on Monday. Dennis McKinney of Greensburg has filed. McKinney is a former Kansas State Treasurer and is a former representative for the 116th House district.

South portions of Dodge, the west portion of Ford County, all of Gray, Clark, Meade, plus part of Haskell counties are the 115th represented currently by Ron Ryckman. Kyle Hoffman's 116th district now includes none of Ford or Kiowa counties but is restricted to Comanche, Barber, Harper and part of Sumner.

"We do keep all of our Western Kansas seats and our local legislative seats remain nearly identical to their current size, which are both big victories from the mapping process," said Garrett Love, state senator for the 38th senate district. "Protecting all of our Western Kansas seats has been a top priority of mine."